Tooth cleaner



Oct. 11, 1932. J, N 1,882,204

TOOTH CLEANER Filed Sept. 50, 1951 [nvelz for: JOE]! ZRNA lPateiried Oct. 11. 1932 UNITED STATES trai s m re O F-ice;

' JOHN 21mm, or ciiicneqirnmors Application'file d September 80, 1931. SCI'iaI 'NO. 535,981.

My invention pertains to a device for cleaning the spaces and cavities between the teeth and for extracting food' particles, food tissue or the like from between the teeth. My invention relates particularly to a highly efficient and sanitary instrument or holder adapted to hold a flexible band or thread adapted to be inserted between the teeth, said band or thread being easily and quickly replaceable. I 1

An object of my invention is the prov sion of a highly serviceable holder which has means whereby an ordinary flexible band or thread may be quickly secured thereonto provide a device for cleaning the teeth, and which band may be quickly removed if broken or unclean, and replaced.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an eflicient and sanitary holder for an elastic rubber band having means whereby a portion of said rubber band may be held in stretched and projected position with respect to the main part of said holder and-pep mitting convenient insertion and movement between the teeth. 3

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompany-' ing drawing.

This invention '(in a preferredform) is il-, lustrated in the drawing and hereinafte -r more fully described. I Y

On the drawingf p y Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of my tooth cleaner with a rubber band properly mounted thereon. V V 1 Fig. 2 shows a similar view of my tooth cleaner with the rubber band removed.

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary side elevation al view showing the slits in the sides ofniy device. i

Fig. ,4 is a cross sectional view taken on line IVIV of Fig. 2 showing theannular groove around the body of my tooth e'leaner.

Fig. 51s a fragmentary view of theend of one of the arms and showing the side slits.-

Fig. 6-shows a'modified form of my tooth cleaning device which merely embodies a U- shaped member and having structural details somewhat similar to my preferred form.

ig. 7;is aside elevational view of a-secondmodified form of my invention embodying the principles of my preferred form and including a casinginto which the yoke por tion may be inserted through ahinged connection.

Fig. 8. is a view of the device shown in Fig.7 but showing'the tooth cleaning portion in dotted lines with the casing. V

Fig. 9 is a view taken from above and looking at Fig. 7 and showing the open edge of the casing. r

Fig. 10' is a' view illustrating the manner of using my tooth cleaning device.

As shown on the drawing:

The reference numeral '10 indicates a sub stantially rectangular body of my preferred device which is preferably made 'of'a hard rubber, bakelite, or other material'capable of being molded and which has a slight degree' of elasticity An arm 11 is formed integral with the corner of the body 10and extends radially and at an obtuse angle to the twoadjacent sides of the body. V

I An arm 12,-which is formed integral with the body 10, extends from the corner of said body adjacent the arm 11, and comprisesa relatively short portion which is parallel to thelonger'sid'es of the body 10,' and an outer angular integral portion which is substantially parallel to arm 11. I a

As clearly shownin Figs-2,4 and 5, transverse grooves 32 are formed on both theopposite flatsides of the body 10 from which 55 I arms 11 and 12 project, said grooves connecting with notches 13 and 13f0rmed in op posite edges of said body, as shown in Figsi land 2. f Said notches 13 and 13' are made so asto"formxshort-studs 14 and "15 with portions of arms 11 and 12. A short recess 33 isformedadjacent each of the notches 13 and 13 and longitudinally on each of the arms 11 and 12 so as'to provide means where-' i Y A short slit 16 is formed the side of the u arm 11 at the end thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, and a similar slit 17 is formed in the side'of the outer portion of arm 12 'preferablyonthe same side-as the slit 16. a I

My tooth cleaner as above described is-constructed particularly to quickly and efficient-.7.

and about the ends .of arms and 21 in the l have removably mounted thereon a rubber t the teeth, and further, such elasticity pre serts the device too far,

band 18 in the manner shown in Fig. 1. rubber band 18 is first wound: around the. grooved side of the body 10 two or more times, after which the free ;loop ,portion which is retained in the fingers is inserted .in slits-16 and 17 of arms'll and .12 respectivelyjso that the. portions of-the rubber band lSjwill liealong the outer edge of said arms, and a slightly stretched portion will extend from oneto the other of the arms 11 and 12, V as clearly-shown in Fig.1. i

. Eachform of my tooth cleaner is the mannershown in Fig. 10, the devicebeing held between 't-hethumh and forefinger so that armsll pointseither'upwardly or down.-

wardly, depending upon-whether the upper or lower teeth are being cleaned. The cleaner is'inserted so that the shorter arm'll is'outside the mouth while the longer arm is-inside the teeth, the taut portion of the rubber band being-inserted between the teeth and pulled out one or more times. As-the rub-. her band is withdrawn it will carry with it food particles. and; other-matter which has lodged either between or onthe frontor back of the'teeth. The elasticity. oftherubber band permits turning the tootlrcleaner when the rubber band is between the teeth so as to.

cause portions of said rubber band to removefood particles from the front ,orback 'sides'of;

vents cutting of the gums when the user int as it willmerely stretch and bend. r v V The'rubber band may be quickly and easily replaced. in: the i manner 1 'afore-described, thereby-insuring a sanitary cleaner at all."

times. a v v T Fig. 6 shows;a modifie d form of my tooth cleaning device similar to'the afore-describ'ed preferred formexcept in that it comprises 1 an elongated U-shapedmember 19 terminat-l ing in one angularly projecting arm 20 and a longercurved arm 21, said'armsbeing substantiallyparallel. The arms-20 and :21 ha v ingl side slitsv 22 and 23 respectivelyjinthe;

ends thereof-which are similar- :to those de-f scribed in my preferredformm 1 i The arm 20.curves inwardlyof the outer edge of the integrahportion' of the U shaped member 19, as shown in Fig. 6, and a notch i 24 isformed' in the outer edge of said arm opposite saidinwardly curved portion and substantially perpendicularly to the outer portion'ofsaid arm 20, thereby forming a manner shown' in Fig. 6 and so that the portion between said slits will be slightly stretched.

. Fig.7 shows asecond modified form of my device embodying a cleaning device similar to that shown in Fig-6 except thatthe U- shaped member 2'Z,-which has--an annular groove 82", notches andslits similar to those previously described, is comparatively short,

and the connecting portion thereof has a peripheral apertured ear 28. Said 'U-shaped member is hingedly pivoted to theopposite walls ofa relatively thin casing29 by means of a short rivetBO which passes through said apertured ear and is secured in apertures in 'saidwalls. The casing 29 has one open edge and is ofa 'si-Zetto convenientlyreceive the U sha'ped member27 when it is turned'on its pivot to the position shown in Fig. 8, thereby providing a casing which will keepthe tooth cleaner olean'and sanitary,-particularly when carried in a pocketl' Aninwardly extending stud 31 is secured on the inside of one of the walls of casing 29 and near the open edge thereof, the longer arm of the U-shaped member' 27 beingadapted to depress said stud to push the casingwall outwardly, whereby the tendency of said wall to maintain normal position will cause said stud to press again st.

said longer arm to hold the tooth cleaner within the casing.

1; A to th cleaning device comprising a 'U-shaped member having a portion of one arm'projecting at .an'obtuse angle with-tho remainder of said; arm and having a transversely projecting abutment at the juncture of said portions; an angular projection formed integral withthe other arn of said" "member and substantially parallel with said,

first'mentioned arm, said 7 arm and said proectionhaving side; slotsand said longer arm of said member having an abutment projecting transversely and in a direction opposite to said first mentioned abutment. v

2. An improved tooth cleaning device comprising a Ushaped member having a short and a longer arm and having substantially flat sides, one arm of said U-shaped member comprising a shank portionand an integral arm projecting at an angle from said shank portion, the end of said arm having a transversely opening slot; an outwardly projecting stud at the juncture of said shank and arm portions; a longer arm projecting in a direction substantially parallel to said first mentioned and formed integral with said U-shaped member, said arm having a side slot, and an outwardly projecting stud on the shank portion of said longer arm.

3. A tooth cleaning device comprising a substantially rectangular body; an arm pro jecting from one corner of said rectangular body and having a side recess, said arm being formed integral with said body; a longer arm formed integral with said body and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the two sides of said body and terminating in an outer portion substantially parallel to said first mentioned arm, said outer portion having a recess; and an annular groove formed longitudinally in that side of said body from which said arms project, said groove forming pronounced shoulders with said arms.

4:. A device comprising a flat thin body and an integral U-shaped member having two integral arms, one of said arms of said members being longer than the other and each of said arms having a side slot substantially at the juncuures of said arms and said body, said arms having substantially parallel recesses their respective ends; and an elastic element removably attached about the ends of said arms and extending from one to the other end of said arms. 7

A tooth cleaning device comprising a relatively thin body having one end bifurcated to form a longer arm and a shorter arm, each of said arms having a slot adjacent its end said body having an edgerecess on each longitudinal edge thereof at substantially the juncture ofeach arm, said recesses forming pronounced shoulders with the side of each arm; and cable detachablyengaging said slots and extending from one'arm to the other.

6. A tooth cleaning device comprising a U-shaped member having an annular groove about its shank portion, said groove forming pronounced shoulders with the outer edges of said member, said member terminating in substantially parallel arms having slots therein; an elastic member removably mounted about said U-shaped member. and having a portion thereof extending from one arm to the other; and a relatively thin casing having memberpivotally secured between the walls I of said casing, said yoke shaped member having annular grooves in its shank portion,

and the'extremities of said yoke member having notches; and an elastic element remov-' ably wound about said annular grooves and about the ends of said yoke and normally held in position by said notches and by said grooves.

8. A tooth cleaning device comprising a casing having an open side; a U-shaped member hingedly and yieldingly secured between the walls of said casing, said U-shaped member having peripheral notches on its opposite edges and having slits adjacent the ends of the arms thereof; means in said casing adapted to yieldingly and removably retain the U-shaped member within said cas ing; and an elastic element wound about said U-shaped member so that a portion thereof extends from one arm thereof to the other arm.

9. A tooth cleaning device comprising a relatively thin body; an integral arm projecting radially from said body and having an end recess; a longer arm formed integral with said body and extending in a direction substantially parallel to said first mentioned arm, said longer arm having an end recess, and said body having an abutment formed on each longitudinal edge at the points of juncture of said arms and said body.

10. A tooth cleaning device comprising a substantially rectangular body; an arm projecting from one corner of said rectangular body and having a side recess, said arm being formed integral with said body; a longer arm formed integral with said body and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the two sides of said body and terminating in an outer portion substantially parallel to said first mentioned arm, said outer portion having a recess, and a notch in each longitudinal edge of said body at substantially the point of juncture of said arms and said body.

11. A tooth cleaning device comprising a relatively thin body; an integral arm projecting radially from said body and having an end recess; a longer arm formed integral with said body and extending in a direction substantially parallel to said first mentioned 12; An improved tooth cleaning device comprising a bodyhaving oneend bifurcated and terminating in a short and a longer arm, said longer arm being obtuse and having an end'slot, said body having a recess in each of its longitudinal edgesat substantially the juncture of said arms and said body; In testimony whereof I" have hereunto set my hand this 28th: day of september, 1931' in'Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. 3

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